Drama

Sharon Benge, MFA

Sharon Benge, a native of Dallas, has spent her life deep in the arts of Texas. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she holds a Masters of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University. Currently she’s a Professor of Theater at Texas Woman’s University, where she served as the program director for 13 years. During her tenure as head of TWU drama, she initiated the program’s tradition of theatrical touring. Beginning in 1999, TWU drama students have presented performances in Prague, Czech Republic, Dublin, Ireland, Edinburgh, Scotland and New York City.

With extensive experience in theater producing and directing, she has mounted over 90 plays at theatres throughout the state of Texas. Her work in the North Texas area includes productions at Fort Worth’s Casa Manana Theater, Circle Theater, Jubilee Theater, Amphibian Theater, and Hip Pocket Theater. She has directed works at Desoto’s African American Repertory. The founding director of Fort Worth’s Shakespeare in the Park, Professor Benge has also served in artistic and administrative capacities at Casa Manana Playhouse, Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County and the Dallas Theater Center. Professor Benge recently concluded 25 years as co-host of Art Matters on WRR Radio (101.1 FM) the classical music station in Dallas. For 12 years she also served as the performing arts coordinator for the annual MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival. In 1996 she was honored by the Live Theater League of Tarrant County with the Elston Brooks Award for Excellence and has received similar accolades from the City of Fort Worth, the Arts and Business Connection, the Fort Worth Business Press and the Altrusa Club. In 2010 the Live Theater League of Tarrant County named her their Theater Arts Educator of the year.